Next weekend marks the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of Easter weekend. Instead of dyeing eggs that will never get eaten or buying expensive, prepackaged Easter candy, try making some homemade Easter treats for your friends and family this year. The following sweets are not only easy, inexpensive and more thoughtful than a store-bought gift, but they can all be made in your microwave — one even requires no cooking at all.
—Chocolate-Dipped Peeps
This is a quick and easy modification to an Easter favorite. To make chocolate-dipped Peeps, start by melting one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Stick a fork into the bottom of the Peep and, holding the Peep upside down, dip into the melted chocolate. Slide the Peep onto a plate lined with wax paper. At this point, you can either let the Peeps dry as-is, or you can top them with crushed cookie pieces, chopped nuts or pastel sprinkles.
—Pastel M&M Cookies
It’s easy to make cookies in the microwave, and adding pastel M&M’s candies can make them festive for Easter. Start out with your favorite cookie dough recipe or your favorite store-bought cookie dough, then mix in about a cup of pastel M&M’s. Spoon the dough by tablespoon on a microwave-safe plate lined with wax paper. Microwave the cookies for about three minutes, and then let them rest until cool. Remember that a microwave won’t brown dough like an oven does, so don’t try to heat the cookies until they’re golden brown.
—Bird Nest with Jelly bean Easter Eggs
To make these candy nests, mix one cup of shredded coconut with one cup of melted milk chocolate chips. Drop heaping tablespoons of this mixture onto a wax paper-lined plate and, while the mixture is still warm, make an impression in the middle of each mound with your thumb. Place the prepared “nests” in the fridge until they’re cool, then fill the hole in each nest with jelly beans for a cute and easy Easter bird nest.
—Candy Carrots
This no-bake Easter treat works well as a party favor or as part of an Easter basket. Start with a triangle-shaped cellophane bag or a clear, disposable icing bag. Fill the bag with either orange jelly beans or orange Reese’s Pieces, leaving three inches of space at the top. Cut out two eight-inch squares of green tissue paper. Lay the squares on top of each other and pick them up from the middle; twist the middle of the squares together to make a cone-shaped carrot top. Place the tissue, twisted side facing down, into the bag. Gather the bag where the candy ends and secure with a piece of twine or a twist tie.
There are a few easy ways you can jazz up a plain Rice Krispies treat for Easter. To make pastel-colored Rice Krispies treats, mix a few drops of food coloring into the Rice Krispies mixture before pressing it into the pan. You can also top your finished treats with pastel-colored M&M’s candies, or use a plastic Easter egg to mold the Rice Krispies mixture and fill it with pastel M&M’s. Try this simple recipe for Easter Rice Krispies treats.
A Recipe for Easter Rice Krispie Treats
1/4 cup butter
1 10-ounce bag marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup pastel M&M’s candies
Food coloring (optional)
In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine butter and marshmallows. Microwave on high for two minutes, stir, and then microwave on high for another two minutes or until melted.
To make pastel Rice Krispies treats, add a few drops of food coloring to the melted marshmallow mixture until your desired color is achieved.
Add the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until coated. Add the M&M’s and stir until even distributed.
Pour the Rice Krispies mixture into a buttered 13X9-inch pan. Cut and serve the Rice Krispies treats when cool.
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